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SPCL 1 - Bournemouth end B.A.T. winning sequence
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 28 July 2002
Bournemouth have ended BAT Sports' amazing run of 15 successive "all day" victories and enabled Havant to reduce the deficit at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League to 16 points.
Leaders BAT, who had previously won every `time' match they had played since early June 2001, were held to a draw by Bournemouth at Chapel Gate.
Whereas Havant whipped Andover by eight wickets to remain second in the all too familiar two-horse championship race.
BAT, bowled out for 218 in the last of their 66 overs, were forced on to the defensive as Bournemouth moved to 139-2. But, after receiving 54 overs back from the champions, Bournemouth closed at 162-6.
BAT's top order thrived, with Damian Shirazi (48) featuring in useful partnerships with Richard Kenway (36) and Dave Banks (59), who was eventually run out at 165-3.
Michael Watson (43) prospered as Chris Haniff (4-27) celebrated his first team call up with a useful nine-over spell and left-arm spinner Tom Webley (2-36) produced a containing 14-over spell.
The pair caused BAT to slip from 165-3 to 187-9 before Watson's last-wicket rally with Dan Goldstraw yielded 28 precious runs and took the defending champions on to 218 all out.
Goldstraw picked up his 33rd victim of the season when he had Webley snapped up at slip.
But Bournemouth, through Matt Swarbrick (33), got back into the reckoning ... until the wicket-hungry left-armer struck again at 47-2.
Martin Miller, who finished unbeaten on 62, and Geoff Warrington (43) led Bournemouth on to 139-2.
But Goldstraw, whose lengthy 21-over spell yielded figures of 4-38, probably ended Bournemouth's challenge when he had Warrington caught behind.
Terry Rawlins (2-24) achieved two more breakthroughs, but BAT were never likely to force a result as Bournemouth closed on 162-6.
"I thought they were too defensive - they had `sweepers' out very early - and kept Dan Goldstraw on far too long," criticised Bournemouth skipper Swarbrick.
The check in BAT's unrelenting march towards a second consecutive league title at least enabled Havant to close the gap at the top.
They beat Andover by eight wickets, with Roger Miller hitting a century - and then pulling a hamstring while he was bowling !
Miller hit 100 of Andover's 214-8 and was supported by Ian Gardner (36) and latterly Richard Taylor (20 not out), with left-arm spinner Phil Loat picking up 3-57.
But, with Miller limping out of the attack, Havant openers Andy Perry (49) and Dominic Carson thrived, Andover relying on a large slice of spin bowling.
Leg spinner Martin Docis (2-58) achieved two breakthroughs, but was unable to contain either Carson (89) or Bev Moynan (51 not out) whose unbroken century partnership guided Havant home.
Burridge slipped even farther behind Liphook & Ripsley in the relegation mire after suffering an onslaught from Bashley-Rydal's Western Australian prodigy Luke Ronchi.
The 21-year old Perth batsman cracked an undefeated 126 as Bashley soared past Burridge's 208-7 in only 30 overs. Ronchi and Neil Thurgood (52 not out) put on almost 200 for the second wicket.
Ian Williamson had earlier made 83 as Burridge recovered from early blows by John Whiting (4-36) at 54-3 to reach 208-7 in 60 overs.
Moeen Cheema (35) and Dave Jackson (20) offered support, but it was not enough to spare Burridge another defeat.
Burridge's dilemma worsened when Liphook & Ripsley eked out eight points from a drawn match with Calmore Sports at Ripsley Park. It looked at one stage as though Liphook would win handsomely.
Calmore sank to a depressing 29-4 and later 57-5, but were revived by a face-saving century from skipper Tom Pegler (100), whose late order stands with Paul Cass (31) and John Wall (40 not out) lifted the visitors to 235-8 (Glen Read 3-49).
The sedate pace of South African Alistair Gray (58), who departed at 140-4, held back Liphook's bid for victory.
Michael Smyth (35), Nick Gay (27), Neil Randall (23) and Jeremy Bulled (23) pushed Liphook's reply to 193-4, but time ran out at 209-8.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Damian Shirazi, Richard Kenway, David Banks, Thomas Webley, Daniel Goldstraw, Matthew Swarbrick, Martin Miller, Roger Miller, Andrew Perry, Luke Ronchi, Neil Thurgood, Neil Randall. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |